That slapping sound

That slapping sound you hear coming from Austin is likely Rick Perry slapping his forehead as he watches the other Rick — Santorum — surge to near frontrunner status against that other presumptive frontrunner, Mitt Romney.

Governor, quit punishing yourself. Yes, I know that one would be hard pressed to find a glimmer of sunlight between the politics of the two Ricks, even down to the religiosity, though they are of different sources. States rights. Check. Hate taxes. Check. Hate government. Check. Humble backgrounds. Check. Get all bugged eyed and apoplectic over that socialist Obama. Check. About the only glimmer of difference is that Santorum seems to have a greater sensitivity to other people currently in that humble-means category.

And yet Perry flopped and Santorum surges in the presidential sweepstakes, though both claim the same GOP base for support.

Clearly what’s going on is that Santorum is simply the better candidate. I’m not talking better policy positions. I’m talking a better campaigner. Though I believe many of his positions to be positively wacky — particularly when it comes to women and contraception — he manages to say things and sound somewhat coherent. Perry? Not so much.

So, what are we to make of Santorum’s surge versus Romney?

Sit down, this may surprise you, but I am not of the conservative persuasion. I jest, of course. Regular readers of my column and this blog already know this.

On the one hand, though I see Romney go through some very uncomfortable contortions to get himself to fit into that ultra-right box the GOP has made for itself, I suspect that, in the off chance he was elected president, he would not be nearly as ultra right. If his campaign and his stint as Massachusetts governor have demonstrated anything it is that this man is quite adaptable to political necessities. The country is not as right wing as the GOP base steering this Republican primary. A President Romney would govern accordingly, I’m thinking/guessing/praying/hoping.

But Santorum — like Perry — is a true believer. There is no flexibility there. Depending on what congressional gains are made by the GOP, his policies will either be enacted despite how contrary they are to national views or will trigger behemoth political battles resulting in more of what we already see. That would be virtual gridlock, with only micro movement if any at all on the big issues of the day.

If the election were held today, both Romney and Santorum would lose to Obama. But a lot can happen between now and November and seeming Obama invincibility could dissipate in a heartbeat.

But I ask myself, if the GOP is to lose, which candidate would I prefer be the loser. Romney getting the nomination would mean at least some in the party believe pragmatism and moderation have a place in governance. If Romney loses, however, the message would be: See, we were not conservative enough. The backlash would mean the party continuing to veer right for the next election.

The message in Santorum losing, however, would be: See what happens when we let the ultra right seize the controls. The backlash might be the party veering more toward the middle, where most of the nation really is.

Contrary to popular belief I don’t want to see the GOP diminished into irrelevancy. Democrats unbridled might not be as pleasant a sight as some imagine. Santorum getting the nomination — and losing the general — might prevent that from happening in the long run.

Yes, Perry as nominee would result in the same thing. But, given his campaign performance, there just was never any chance that was going to happen.